Is the neglected tropical disease mass drug administration campaign approach an effective strategy to deliver universal health coverage? A case study of the Liberia neglected tropical disease programme

Tate, Andrew, Kollie, Karsor, Senyonjo, Laura, Sturrock, Hugh, Downs, Phil, Bush, Simon, Bedell, Alex and Molyneux, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8537-7947 (2024) 'Is the neglected tropical disease mass drug administration campaign approach an effective strategy to deliver universal health coverage? A case study of the Liberia neglected tropical disease programme'. International Health, Vol 16, Issue 3, pp. 283-292.

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Abstract

Background
Access to affordable, quality healthcare is the key element of universal health coverage (UHC). This study examines the effectiveness of the neglected tropical disease (NTD) mass drug administration (MDA) campaign approach as a means to deliver UHC, using the example of the Liberia national programme.

Methods
We first mapped the location of 3195 communities from the 2019 national MDA treatment data reporting record of Liberia. The association between coverage for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis treatment achieved in these communities was then explored using a binomial geo-additive model. This model employed three key determinants for community ‘remoteness’: population density and the modelled travel time of communities to their supporting health facility and to their nearest major settlement.

Results
Maps produced highlight a small number of clusters of low treatment coverage in Liberia. Statistical analysis suggests there is a complex relationship between treatment coverage and geographic location.

Conclusions
We accept the MDA campaign approach is a valid mechanism to reach geographically marginal communities and, as such, has the potential to deliver UHC. We recognise there are specific limitations requiring further study.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WA Public Health > WA 30 Socioeconomic factors in public health (General) WB Practice of Medicine > Therapeutics > WB 340 Drug Administration WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 680 Tropical diseases (General)
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad035
Depositing User:	Clare Bennett
Date Deposited:	18 May 2023 09:10
Last Modified:	29 Aug 2024 15:19
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/22513

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